Eighty years ago, on August 16, 1943, the engineering marvel USS Intrepid was commissioned. This summer, its former crew members will return to the ship to swap stories, honor fallen comrades and celebrate Intrepid’s 80 years of service to our country, both as an active ship and as a Museum. Many Former Crew Members, joined by their families, will be coming back to Intrepid for the first time since they served, reuniting with shipmates they haven’t seen in decades.

The ship, their ship, then defended our nation, now continues to serve as the centerpiece of the Intrepid Museum. We preserve the ship’s history with reverence, pride and purpose, using the lessons of the past to shape a brighter future. Guided by core values of integrity, innovation, and inclusivity, the Museum’s exhibits and programs are designed to provide a meaningful visitor experience for all. The Museum delivers nationally-recognized accessible programming to audiences near and far with an emphasis on underserved communities, individuals with physical, cognitive, and sensory disabilities, including autism and dementia, and our veterans. Through its after-school, professional development, and STEM programs, the Museum educates and impacts more than 100,000 students each year.

The service, ingenuity and bravery of all who served on Intrepid’s decks are our guiding light as we strive to fulfill our new mission on behalf of tomorrow’s leaders, innovators and explorers. They define Intrepid, then and now. They infuse this behemoth of steel, this hallowed ground, with humanity.

This celebration is about them—the 50,000 men of Intrepid. We honor them. We salute them. We thank them.